Chapter 13
1297 Words
She went home and started packing her bag for the weekend, moving around her apartment with practiced efficiency. Clothes first—comfortable, then fun. Shoes she could walk in, and shoes she probably shouldn’t. Toiletries, charger, emergency painkillers she already knew she’d need.
Then she crossed to the cupboard and pulled out the box.
Charlie snorted as she opened it.
The bachelorette tiara and sash sat right on top, glitter catching the light. Beneath them were the truly unhinged essentials: p***s-shaped straws, ridiculous posters emblazoned with Zach’s face—cropped, enlarged, and deeply unflattering—and a handful of party favours she’d sworn were a terrible idea and bought anyway.
She shook her head, smiling as she shoved the lot into her bag.
“This weekend is going to be chaos,” she murmured fondly.
Zipping the bag closed, Charlie paused for a moment, a strange flicker of thought passing through her mind—unbidden, unexpected.
Rowan.
She frowned, then laughed softly at herself. Shook it off. This weekend wasn’t about mystery men or coffee-shop glances. It was about Anna, loud music, bad decisions, and celebrating the hell out of her best friend.
Charlie locked up and headed out, weekend bag slung over her shoulder, keys already in hand.
Anna was waiting when she pulled up, bouncing on the balls of her feet, excitement written all over her face. The second she climbed into the car, she squealed and threw her arms around Charlie.
“This is it,” Anna said breathlessly. “I’m officially handing my dignity over to you for the weekend.”
Charlie grinned. “A bold and deeply questionable decision.”
Zach appeared at the door then, jacket half on, watching them with fond suspicion. “I just want to say,” he began, pointing a finger between them, “that I expect my fiancée back in one piece.”
Charlie raised her right hand solemnly. “I promise,” she said, deadpan, “that we will be safe. Responsible. Completely controlled.”
Anna snorted. Zach laughed outright.
“Liar,” he said affectionately.
“Absolutely,” Charlie agreed, starting the engine. “But I will text you if we end up on the news.”
Zach shook his head, smiling as they pulled away, both women already laughing—fully aware that whatever this weekend held, controlled was never really an option.
In the car, all promises of dignity evaporated within minutes.
The music was turned up far too loud, bass rattling the doors as the girls screamed along—half singing, half rapping—every obscene lyric with zero shame and even less accuracy. Anna stood on the dashboard air-drumming, Charlie pounding the steering wheel in time, both of them laughing so hard it hurt.
“If anyone hears us, we’re getting arrested,” Anna gasped between verses.
“For what?” Charlie shot back. “Crimes against rhythm?”
They dissolved into giggles again, windows cracked just enough to let the cool air rush in and whip their hair around. The road stretched ahead, the city thinning into long, dark ribbons of highway.
An hour and a half felt like nothing.
They talked over the music—about the weekend ahead, about Grey’s VIP section, about how Anna was absolutely not going to cry and then immediately admitting she probably would. Somewhere between songs, the laughter softened into comfortable chatter, excitement buzzing like electricity in the car.
By the time the hotel finally appeared in the distance, both of them were hoarse, euphoric, and fully committed to making this a weekend neither of them would ever forget.
Mia was already waiting in the lobby.
Excitement was an understatement.
She paced back and forth in heels that were wildly impractical, phone in hand, eyes glued to the entrance like she was tracking prey. The second she spotted them through the glass doors, she let out a shriek that echoed off the marble walls.
“You’re late,” she announced dramatically, rushing forward and pulling Anna into a hug. “I’ve been vibrating for twenty minutes.”
Anna laughed, nearly losing her balance. “Missed you too, psycho.”
Mia spun to Charlie next, grabbing her shoulders. “Okay, bags down, shoes on, tell me you brought the chaos box.”
Charlie lifted her bag with a smug smile. “Tiara, sash, obscene straws, and posters of Zach, future husband’s face.”
Mia clutched her chest. “God, I love you.”
The lobby buzzed with weekend energy—other groups checking in, laughter spilling from the bar—but Mia’s excitement cut through it all, electric and unstoppable.
“This weekend,” she declared, linking arms with both of them, “is going to be legendary.”
Chloe joined them shortly after, breezing into the lobby with an easy smile and a small suitcase rolling behind her.
Zach’s sister was impossible to miss—same warm eyes, same crooked grin—though where Zach was laid-back, Chloe carried a sharp, playful energy that fit right in.
“There you are,” she said, spotting them immediately. “I was starting to think you’d ditched me.”
Anna beamed. “Never. You’re family now—no escaping us.”
Chloe laughed and hugged her, then turned to Charlie and Mia. “So. I’ve been warned. Apparently I’m about to witness things I can’t unsee.”
Charlie grinned. “Correct. Consent was implied when you showed up.”
Mia looped an arm through Chloe’s. “Welcome to the chaos. Rule one: what happens this weekend does not get reported back to Zach.”
Chloe raised her hand solemnly. “My lips are sealed.”
With the group complete and excitement buzzing between them, the weekend officially began.
Anna and Charlie claimed one of the adjoining rooms, tossing their bags onto the beds without ceremony, while Mia and Chloe disappeared into the other with shrieks and laughter echoing through the shared door.
Shoes were kicked off, jackets abandoned, mirrors barely glanced at.
“Ten minutes,” Mia called through the door. “Then cocktails.”
“Five,” Charlie shot back. “I refuse to waste good bar time.”
They regrouped in the hallway moments later—already more polished, energy buzzing—and headed downstairs. The hotel bar glowed with low lighting and soft music, the kind of place that promised strong drinks and bad ideas.
They slid into seats, ordering without hesitation.
“To Anna,” Charlie said as glasses arrived, lifting hers first.
“To bad decisions,” Mia added.
“To marriage,” Chloe said with a grin.
Anna laughed, eyes bright as she clinked her glass with theirs. “And to surviving whatever you maniacs have planned.”
They drank, the first cocktail going down smooth and fast—just enough to loosen tongues and set the night in motion.
Charlie checked her phone, then set it face down on the bar with a satisfied nod.
“Alright, listen up,” she said, slipping easily into organiser mode. “The limo will be here in one hour.”
A collective groan rose from the table.
“One hour?” Mia protested. “That’s barely enough time to emotionally prepare.”
“It’s plenty,” Charlie said calmly. “But it does mean we need to go back upstairs and get ready. Full glam. No distractions. No ‘just one more drink.’”
Chloe laughed. “You say that like it’s realistic.”
Anna drained the last of her cocktail and slid off her stool. “Fine. But if we’re late, it’s because Mia lost an eyelash.”
“Or my dignity,” Mia added cheerfully.
Charlie grinned as she stood. “Both are acceptable casualties. Let’s move.”
- Writer
